Author
Topic: Windshield Wiper Motors? (Read 4502 times)

These things operate on 12v DC, why doesnt everyone use them? They are geared hevaily, so are very sturdy, and very strong, why werent these used with airman's butler robot, as opposed to his choice of wheelchair motors? Can anyone tell me why I shouldnt go out and buy (cheaper) windshield wiper motors as opposed to (more expensive) wheelchair motors? Or a whole nother choice?

True, they are geared heavily, run on 12 VDC, and the works...a typical windshield wiper motor can handle up to about 17 lbs-foot at forty rotations per minute. I was originally going to use them for my robot NINA, but she was getting to be a big robot! (Bigger than I intended), and I was really beginning to doubt that 17 lb-foot was going to move her. I happened to have wheelchair motors I bought from ebay earlier, so I move her to those. (I'm saving those two windshield wiper motors for another project. Maybe a lightweight trashcan rover thingie, once I find something useful for it to do.)

But I did hear they're not very power efficient. And they're expensive, (unless you get them from a auto junk shop for $20 each). Plus, I think the wiring is really confusing for some of them...

But sure! They're be great for small, to medium weight robots. Maybe even some heavy-medium robots. Just not the one I'm building right now.

True, they are geared heavily, run on 12 VDC, and the works...a typical windshield wiper motor can handle up to about 17 lbs-foot at forty rotations per minute. I was originally going to use them for my robot NINA, but she was getting to be a big robot! (Bigger than I intended), and I was really beginning to doubt that 17 lb-foot was going to move her. I happened to have wheelchair motors I bought from ebay earlier, so I move her to those. (I'm saving those two windshield wiper motors for another project. Maybe a lightweight trashcan rover thingie, once I find something useful for it to do.)

But I did hear they're not very power efficient. And they're expensive, (unless you get them from a auto junk shop for $20 each). Plus, I think the wiring is really confusing for some of them...

But sure! They're be great for small, to medium weight robots. Maybe even some heavy-medium robots. Just not the one I'm building right now.

Thanks! That helped, I think I may just wait for ebay to show me some cheap wheelchair motors! One other question, are these, wheelchair motors geared like the windshield wiper motors? And are they usually 12v DC like them?